Way back in the early 1980s I purchased one of the very first Porsche Design products, a watch. Needless to say it was both beautiful and unique. I might still have it today had I not allowed myself to be suckered into a silly game wherein men with upmarket “toys” would permanently exchange them, no cash involved. So I gave up the Porsche watch for something of equal value whose significance was such that I can longer remember what that something was. Almost three decades later I have a chance to redeem myself, for Bonhams is offering the private watch collection of the Porsche family in its Fine Watches & Wristwatches auction in London’s New Bond Street on December 2nd, with proceeds donated to charity.
The 49 lots of Porsche family watches include pieces by Eterna, Porsche Design, Rolex, Panerai, Eberhard, Jaeger LeCoultre, Breitling, Chronoswiss and Omega. Included is an automatic prototype wristwatch by Porsche Design. It was made to explore the possibilities of different colour accents in dial design of the ‘Dashboard line’, inspired largely by watches of the 1960s and 70s. Mine was similar to the one on the left which, if I had it today, would offer me a choice of wearing it or my classic 1969 Heuer Carrera. Of course I won’t be at the auction because, with the passing of time (literally) I can no longer afford even a second-hand sundial. And no, I will never exchange that Heuer.